Growing BasilHow To Grow Basil The Easy Way

Even if you do not know the first thing about Italian cooking you should
learn how to grow basil. This plant is often referred to as the royal
queen
of herbs and it is one of the easiest edibles for anyone to grow at
home.

There are a wonderful array of different varieties of basil that you can
select from including Spicy Globe, Genovese basil, Thai basil, Lemon
basil,
Sweet Basil, Mexican Spice, Lettuce Leaf, Magical Michael and many
others. Italian cooks are well aware that the sweet, savory flavors of
Genovese Basil
are the perfect accompaniment for any Italian cuisine.

Thai and other Asian dishes are enhanced by the spicy, aromatic Thai Basil. Although most varieties
of basil have culinary uses there are a few that are highly prized for their ornamental value.

Growing Basil Indoors

This wonderful aromatic and hardy herb can be successfully grown in
almost any setting. If you live in a very cool climate it might be best
to
cultivate basil varieties in a greenhouse environment or inside your
home. Basil performs admirably when the temperatures are above 60
degrees both during the day and night. Plant your basil plants into 2 to
3 litre containers and place them in your sunniest spot. Water them
only through a saucer, never from the top. Pinch out the flowers as they
develop.

More Herb Pages

Warm, dry weather will never daunt the perky green foliage and mature
plants are able to withstand drought with minimal watering. Basil is a
sun
loving plants that should never be set out in shadier areas.

Gardeners add these as companion plants in a vegetable or flower bed but
basil is equally at home in a visually appealing herb garden. Some
people
even plant these herbs in rock gardens or use them as specimen plants.
This resilient little herb can be grown indoors or outside and you can
even set
them out in containers of almost any size and basil will happily produce
fresh, fragrant leaves throughout the growing season.

How To Grow Basil

Start off basil seeds indoors or in a glasshouse in the spring. Cover
them only lightly with fine seed compost as basil seeds are very small.
The seeds
need minimum 10 degrees for germination.

Transplant the basil seedlings when they start to produce their second set of leaves. If you grow basil in pots
you can plant 5-10 basil plants into a container.

Basil Plant Care

Watering is often where most mistakes are made. The water requirements for growing basil are relatively slight and once a
week watering is more than adequate for the needs of these plants. Overwatered plants tend to rot off.

My Special Tip

Never overwater your basil plant and allow the soil to dry
out completely in between watering. If you always let the soil remain a
bit on the dry side it
will help you prevent any root or plant rot.

Misting or sprinkling the
outdoor garden basil with a little water is one way many gardeners
choose to
handle the watering chores.

If you have basil growing in a container
watering the plants from the top should be avoided, although you may
want to add
some water to the bottom overflow saucer and allow the plant to absorb
the water that is needed.

Pests And Diseases

Aphids and whiteflies can attack your basil but both of these pests can
be handled without resorting to harsh chemical pesticides. A little
soapy water
and a cloth or sprayer is all that should be required to eliminate these
tiny insects from your bountiful basil garden.

Remember that lacewings, lady bugs,
walking sticks and the praying mantis are all beneficial insects that
can be an asset when you want to keep harmful bugs away from your herbs,
flowers or
vegetable gardens.

Cooking With Basil

The leaves from a basil plant are packed with savory, rich flavor when
you use them immediately after harvesting. Always use basil that is
freshly picked
and only add it the meat, sauce, stew or vegetable dish after the food
has been cooked.

The fresh taste of basil should not be subjected to the high heats
needed for cooking and should only be incorporated into the cooked dishes shortly before they are served at the table.

Are you interested in growing culinary herbs? Check out our Little Miss
Greenfingers Book on Growing Culinary Herbs In Containers! You will find
loads
of useful and easy to follow information that will make growing herbs a
success for you. This book is available in the
Amazon Kindle Store and on Smashwords. Download now and start growing herbs like a pro!

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